For the past 18 years I've gone fishing in northern Ontario every year with two of my buddies, Carl and John. The majority of our trips have been to the Kenogaming Lake Lodge in northern Ontario. As you can imagine, during 18 years of fishing together there have been a few fish stories told. Well, this year's story is a whopper, but it is also true. Carl and John set out together from the lodge after supper and I followed them alone in another boat. We headed straight to a known hot spot about three miles from the camp. I was using my trusty "Mitchell" ultra-light rod and reel that I've had for 30 years. I've had a relationship with this rod and reel longer than I've known my wife and have caught hundreds of fish with it over the years. Needless to say, "Mitchell" and I have grown very close. The fishing had gone cold, so I headed to another likley spot about a quater mile away. After arriving, I put my line over the side and moved to the bow to drop the anchor. When I turned around to grab my trusty "Mitchell," there it was... gone! I'm known to be a bit clumsy at the best of times, so I thought to myself, "You great stupid lump, you've kicked your rod overboard." Now if this had been just any rod and reel it wouldn't have been a big deal, but I felt like I'd just drowned a friend. After a bit I decided that I was there anyway and might as well do some fishing with a new rod and reel that I'd brought along. I put a minnow on the hook and dropped it to the bottom. Almost at once I got a bite and reeled in a small pike. I dropped my line again and pulled it up just enough to get the hook off of the bottom. I felt a strange tug and figured that I'd snagged on a branch or something. As the hook broke the surface I saw a clear, thin fishing line set nicely across the barbs. I reached down to grab the line and it gave a great tug to the left. I grabbed the line to the right and pulled it up hand over hand and was shocked to see my missing "Mitchell" ultra-light rod and reel. As soon as I got my hand on the trusty "Mitchell" the rod bent almost in half and the line began to scream off the reel. I loosened the drag and the fight was on. After about five minutes I netted a nice sized pike. It wasn't until the fish was in the boat that I realized what had just happened. I thought, "no one is ever going to believe this," so I grabbed my camera with my left hand, held the pike in my right hand and took a number of photos. I was so happy to have my prized rod and reel back that I gave Mr. Pike a big kiss and released him. I sat there alone in the boat and began to laugh and laugh and laugh out loud. I must have sounded like a real loonie because just then Carl and John pulled along side. I tried to tell them what had happened but could only sputter, "The Pike took my rod but I got her back." Even though I have pictures I don't think they believe me 100 percent. Do you?
  Submitted By: Dave